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10.24.2009

WRAPPIN IT UP: LSU wins, 31-10

Hey everyone. You may or may not want to read this stuff. A former Facebook friend said tonight that I've had a "chip on my shoulder since the Chizik hire."

Man, I wonder if we're all on the same planet sometimes.

BY THE NUMBERS:
  • Auburn had 193 yards of offense. Yes. I also thought it was more like 100.

  • Auburn ran 61 plays.

  • Wideouts caught two passes.

  • Auburn allowed four sacks.

  • LB Eltoro Freeman, back on defense for the first time in three weeks, finished with 12 tackles. Not too shabby.

  • Chris Todd in 3+ quarters of play: 8-14, 47 yards, 1 INT

  • Neil Caudle in >1 quarter of play: 3-5, 34 yards, 1 TD


QUOTIN'
  • Joshua Bynes on Freeman: ``Eltoro did what he was supposed to do out there tonight. He had great execution. He was taking one play at a time. He was doing exactly what we asked of him."

  • Gus Malzahn on the situation: ``You get confidence by doing things right and making plays. I still think this offense is capable of being very good. We just have to find a way to correct the mistakes and make some plays to give us momentum."

  • Malzahn on Chris Todd: ``Tough night. We’ll look at the film, look at everybody and see what happens."

  • Malzahn on Neil Caudle: ``I thought he did a solid job. It’s tough for a quarterback to come in that situation."

  • Walt McFadden on the team's psyche: ``We’ve just got to keep communicating, keep fighting and don’t put our heads down. We’ve got to let everybody know we’re here and we’re going to keep playing hard every game."

  • McFadden on what Chizik said afterward: ``He basically told us what it was. He kept it real with us. That team came out and they gave us their all. They whooped our butts. They’re a great team. We have to learn from our mistakes and try to make sure it doesn’t happen next week."

111 Comments:

Blogger Jet said...

Unidentified substance. Oh, it's the Auburn offense.

11:25 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Jay ...

What do you make of the Gus comments?

11:26 PM  
Blogger patdyeswildturkey said...

BROTHER JET, THE COACHES HAVE NO ANSWERS IN MY OPINIONS, LOL

11:30 PM  
Blogger Mark said...

It appeared that once LSU scored their first TD, this team lost all hope.

11:51 PM  
Blogger Miller said...

How many penalty yards did we end up with?

Also, JGT... will you press the issue on the health of Chris Todd's arm? The past couple of weeks he's lacked zip on his throws and he's been double/triple clutching on all of his passes much the same way he was last year before they shut him down and finally admitted his arm was toast.

I want him to get whatever is going on straightened out and for him to be productive... but if his arm is not healthy then they need to admit it so they can find a solution... be it Caudle or throwing Rollison to the wolves.

12:01 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

You know, I thought Todd's mechanics looked better. The problem tonight, in my opinion, was his indecisiveness.

That wasn't a problem until recently. It's baffling.

Gus' comments: They're going to consider all options.

12:43 AM  
Blogger ron mexico said...

we got to do something about chris todd

12:52 AM  
Blogger ron mexico said...

chris todd has no confidence...

player of the game for us is Hot Carter

12:54 AM  
Blogger Jimmy said...

Jay you are dead on, in the earlier games his quick throws lead to TD's

Today his indecisiveness cost him sacks and a fumble.

1:02 AM  
Blogger ron mexico said...

I say we write this season off and play rollison/caudle so next year we have a shot at being decent cause honestly Chizik isn't going to have that long to win the support of the Auburn people

1:13 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Forget about playing Rollison. It would be a huge waste and probably destructive to his confidence.

Play Caudle for a while and see how he does. Todd is still available as the backup and maybe he will have some plays in him later on.

At this point our offense looks worse than this time last season. The RFYLK offense was doing better than this. The only problem with it is that it guaranteed we would lose by fewer points.

4:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There are no answers only questions.

6:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I may be reaching here, but anybody make anything out of the look of hate Isom and others shot Chris Todd after the Caudle TD? The were glaring through him.

6:59 AM  
Blogger Jet said...

Oh, there are answers, Sensi. We just don't like them.

Our deepest fears were confirmed. We schemed early against teams we could beat. Eventually, teams would catch up to it, and the talent level of the opposition would rise.

West Virginia kept throwing and forgot about Noel Devine. We were far enough ahead of UT when Todd's arm and confidence faded.

It was near this point in the season when the defense gave out of gas and hope.

We don't have enough players, and the ones we have aren't that good -- save Tate. Our problem yet again is that we're running an offense that puts an immense about of pressure on the QB, and we don't have one that can handle it.

Chiz and Gus made the bet that Todd would be OK, and didn't give Tyrik a chance to mature along the way. So, now he's not an option. Caudle looked fine against the LSU reserves (until the final play), but that doesn't mean a lot.

I said last night, and I'll say it again, I think they needed to play Caudle the entire second half to see what he would do against a top-flight SEC defense.

7:11 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

LSU's not a great team.

For the past 3 weeks we've looked like we were Vanderbilt or Miss State out there. Just inept in almost every phase of the game.

Sensi,

The one I saw give an evil look toward Todd on the sidelines was Josh Bynes.

8:00 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Glad to see Ron Mexico back, but not under these circumstances.

8:00 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Jet,

I agree. I have no idea why in the second half we stayed with Todd.

If he's not hurt, then he has no confidence because he just sit back there and held onto the ball afraid to make a decision with it.

8:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RK,

I think you may be right (reviewed it again) - all I saw was the 7 on the jersey and what looked like a 5 was probably a 1.

That's not good either. D vs. O is a lose-lose battle. Both sides have major problems.

8:14 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

It is awesome to see Ron Mexico back!

8:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jay,

Have you flown back yet? If not, be safe.

8:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Josh Moon writes some truth that'll be hard to swallow. It is very fair, in my opinion.

8:26 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

So is it McCluster or Snead that we make look Heisman worthy this week?

8:29 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

I just don't understand how this is the same team from the start of the year?

Amazing what confidence or lack there of can do to a team.

8:30 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I'll be "flying" at 80 mph starting in about 20 minutes.

8:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, I meant it in the highway flying kind of way.

8:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My friend, Kevin Strickland, breaks it down quite well in his column.

Auburn...looking for silver linings

8:45 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Well all I can say today is


Go Steelers!

8:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

At least the Titans won't lose this week.

We have BYE's number.

8:54 AM  
Blogger JgobravesHAG said...

WE SUCK AGAIN

9:00 AM  
Blogger Kathy said...

Waiting for the rest of my traveling party to wake up so we can get on the road. We knew it would be a rough year; however, yesterday's blowout was difficult to watch. On another note, I met some great Auburn folks and LSU folks and even one Bama dude who happens to be an Auburn student. We had a fantastic time in spite of the loss.

Glad to see Ron Mexico posting again.

9:11 AM  
Blogger digger4au said...

This team and coaches took me high into the ski the first 5 weeks. Now they have taken me below sea level down to underground Atlanta level. With my feet firmly on the ground I will ride this season out with this team and coaches. It is disappointing when you go from so high to so low in three weeks but having been around a long time I have seen it all and know they will build it back up. Stay with these young men and coaches.

9:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We are going through growing pains and I think it is unfortunate that some are calling for heads already.

Some things can be fixed and we saw that last night. Penalties killed us early but we stopped doing that in the second half. Todd made better throws physically, but he looks like he lost his confidence.

Also, these were players that were inherited. Once the players that we need come in, I am sure things will start to gel.

I watched Eltoro last night because of what has happened. He played well, that is a positive. I have been criticized for stating I saw positives last night.

Big Picture People!

9:20 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Only thing worse than Chris Todd's QB play is the penalties. And at the most completely backbreaking of times. Watching this team play football right now is like listening to a vehicle collision while watching livestock get slaughtered. It's horrible in every way. Neil needs to go in there, Chris Todd has lost all confidence and doesn't give us a chance to win anymore. He isn't even throwing it to wideouts. This was a 2008 worthy offensive performance.

9:39 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

We had 55 yards in penalties 7 mins into the game. During that same time period we had given up over 100 yards and had two passes for 2 yards.

You can't win at home like that, much less in Baton Rouge.

I expected some struggles, but not a complete drop off out of nowhere.

9:59 AM  
Blogger scottiep said...

well said 04.

I know fans don't want to call out players (understandably so). I think it is unreasonable to start talking about replacing coaches. But, I do think it is reasonable to question some of the decisions being made by the coaches.

I think Gus really needs to take a step back, look at where the offense is breaking down and find a way to get the offense back on track.

If we don't have the pieces--or the pieces are either injured or not good enough--then he needs to find plays that we can execute a high percentage of the time.

10:17 AM  
Blogger patdyeswildturkey said...

Jay,

I laughed out loud reading your column today. Anytime you can sneak a Michael McDonald reference in an Auburn article it is golden.

Shine Sweet Freeman, classic.

Touche, my friend. ha

10:33 AM  
Blogger ron mexico said...

I didn't think it would come to this but right now this team is worse than last year's. At least last year we had a defense. This year we don't have either. Chizik needs to find an identity for the program.

10:44 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

When Gus was at Tulsa, I know he was the co-offensive coordinator with Herb Hand.

How were responsibilites broken down between him and the other co-coordinator?

I just wonder if there was a reason that there were two and what responsibilties went to Gus and what went to Hand.

10:45 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Anyone who has watched Auburn football Everyday knows Chizik preaches to the players that you have to get past the imposters that occur early in the game. Who knew that we were the imposter early in the season?

I know 7 or 8 wins was the best most people picked for us this year. However it's hard to be happy with getting what you predicted when you start off hot and just fall off a cliff out of nowhere.

10:48 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

It's my personal opinion, but I don't think I've seen anything as bad as last year, as we struggled in the 4th quarter to beat UT-Martin, and I'm sure many of you will think I'm ignorant for saying that. Unfortunately as Jet previously has said this team is only as good as our starting QB. Coaches have some more work to do.

10:51 AM  
Blogger Frame said...

Why is it so hard for coaches to make changes at QB? Coaches at every level struggle with it, when it seems so obvious from an outsider's point of view that a change needs to be made. Obviously, being an outsider makes a big difference, but we all can see what happens in the games, and that's where it matters.

Once a season is lost, as far as making it to the SECCG goes, why not just try and see if Caudle can do any better. The knock on him is his tendency to throw interceptions. Well, it's tough to fix a problem like that without ever having a chance to get meaningful playing time.

10:52 AM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

So I guess this means coach Malzahn is not going to be getting all those head coaching offers people were talking about after the WVU game?

10:55 AM  
Blogger ron mexico said...

yeah UT-Martin last year was embarassing, but we only got blown out twice last year (Bama and West Va), we've already been blown out twice this year, and the way things are looking the blowouts might be the trend at the end of the year

11:00 AM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

WERK, I found a hiring announcement when CGM was hired at Tulsa. This is an excerpt.

"We started talking when he got the job (he was introduced on Friday as Steve Kragthorpe's replacement), and I'll be an assistant head coach and I'll get to call the plays. His philosophical background is similar to mine in that he likes the no-huddle, spread offense. It's a great opportunity."

11:00 AM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

We're still 5-3 folks. This season is reminiscent of the 2003 season. Beating some teams, losing bad to others. I think we have another win outside of Furman left in the tank. Win the bowl game that gets you 8-5 and one heck of a turnaround.

11:01 AM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

soooooo.......when does basketball season start?

11:19 AM  
Blogger IV said...

I still think that we have to give this staff some time to right the ship. Gus is a much better OC than he is showing now. I think that it has some to do with the personnel that he has. I also think that it has something to do with his strategy. There is not much he can do about the players he has to run his offense this year, but he can reevaluate his strategy and provide schemes that will at least make us think that progress is being made. I am starting to get concerned as to what this turn of events will do to our recruiting for next year. It had been positive, now I an afraid it has turned negative. Of course, one could say that it will be apparent to any recruit that he will get early playing time; however, it could also tell them you will be playing on a losing team for awhile. I am going to stay with this coaching staff, support them and give them a chance to start making positive changes from now until the end of the season. I will watch closely as to what they do after the season, leading up to signing day and then spring practice.

11:21 AM  
Blogger IV said...

BTW, welcome back Ron Mexico. Good to have your observations and comments again.

11:23 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

I agree we have to give this staff time, however time doesn't explain the complete drop off out of nowhere in offensive production.

11:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bro. Jet:
"We don't have enough players, and the ones we have aren't that good -- save Tate. Our problem yet again is that we're running an offense that puts an immense about of pressure on the QB, and we don't have one that can handle it."

Ditto.

Also, in the first five games Todd had all day to throw. He got them out quick, but he had more than enough time. Better defenses in the SEC are beating us on the ends and Todd looks blind and indecisive. I think he has lost confidence in his ability to make throws.

11:44 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

There really aren't the comparisons to 2003.

2003 we were expected to be really good, 2009 we weren't.

2003 we started off slowly with no offense, 2009 the opposite.

2003 we never really had any offensive momentum, 2009 we started off with more momentum on offense than we've ever had and it just stopped immediately.

2003 we got some hope in the middle of the year with wins over Ark and UT, 2009 we came crashing down in the middle of the year.

The 2003 team that went 8-5 had Campbell, Williams, Brown, Dansby, Thomas, Rosegreen, Rogers, Ratliff, McNeill, Mark Brown, Obomanu, Aromashodu, Grubbs, Mix, Taylor, Herring, Torbor, Johnson, Brandon Jacobs and many others who aren't coming through the door to save this team.

The 2003 team had talent and depth. The 2009 team has some talent, but no depth and not it seems no confidence.

2003 was a huge disappointment, but we knew the talent was there. Which is why that year was so frustrating. 2009 has been a weird season where if we end up with the 7 or 8 wins that we predicted early in the year it will seem like it's a huge let down due to the way the team shined at the start of the year.

Someone has to step up at the QB spot, I don't care if it's Todd, Caudle, Burns, Rollison, Trotter or Meiko Collier, someone has to take this offense and not be afraid to make a mistake while trying to make plays.

11:52 AM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Todd had plenty of time to throw last night, but either didn't have the confidence in his arm or was afraid to make a mistake.

I'd take Daniel Cobb at QB right now. He made mistakes and forced some horrible throws in traffic, but you can't say he wasn't afraid to make a mistake if he missfired or that he didn't have confidence in his arm.

11:54 AM  
Blogger ron mexico said...

We can't pin the problems on the O-Line again. It's not a coincidence that when we have a capable quarterback the O-line is good and we have an indecisive weak armed quarterback they are bad.

We just have to make a change at quarterback it's been three games now. And the definition of insane is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results... playing Chris Todd and expecting a good game is insane.

11:55 AM  
Blogger wtc said...

I'm for changing QBs now, but if the WRs can't get open, what then. Reading jay's take form the press box, he says that the WR are not open. Can't blame that on Todd. I didn't have the view Jay had, but if evreyone is covered, what do you do?

I wonder was the middle area open and we still forced it up the sideline?

12:09 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Is Malzahn reviewing film of the other teams defense. This is 3 weeks in a row. surely he can figure out wha tthey are doing and expect the same thing going forward.

12:10 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

This is not rocket science. The oher defenses are not going all out to make plays, they are just playing basic head up defense and not letting AU getthe big play, well take the small play. I would rather have several short yardage plays than a stinkin' 3 and out 'cause you tried to throw the long ball.

12:11 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

It is now timeto get burns off the field also. Au is wasting a spot on the field. That kittycat offense is nothing. He cannot run nor can he throw. Watch any teamthat runs it. It ismainly a RB that handles that spot and he runs with determination, not like he is afraid or indecisive.

12:13 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

WTC ...

I see a night's sleep didn't help your frame of mind.

12:16 PM  
Blogger Loganville Tiger said...

Let me get this off my chest.....

Soap Box On.....

I don't understand while AU started 5-0 all I seemed to hear was Toddzilla this and Toddzilla that. We had our quarterback and all was right in the world - in fact - World Beaters. 9 & 3 or 10 & 2. It was ours for the taking. Gus is a genius and Chiz is the best motivational coach since Knute Rockne.

Now here we stand with 3 straight bitter losses - complete implosion on what we have seen the first 5. Now I hear we have no QB, pull the redshirt off of Rollison or let Caudle finish the season.... So on and so forth.... I was even more disparaged by what I saw on the Blog last night with the Todd Suxs and Gus is an Idiot post. Come on guys, we are in our first year of a new regime. If this stuff was happening in the 5th (or as with Tub's, 2nd decade) I could understand. We got to let these coaches build over the next few years. they are playing with old poker chips right now.

Too much credit is given to the QB when things are going right, and way to much blame is leveled when things are going wrong. Todd held the ball too long....Did any of the announcers point out last night a open receiver that he missed and didn't let it rip to? Could it be our recievers just weren't getting open? Could it be that he held the ball and took the sack as opposed to throwing into tight coverage risking an interception? I woo would have rather seen him throw it away, but I will take a sack as opposed to an INT.

This is the first year of a process - Very few if any expected an SEC championship game appearance this year - nor do many of us expect it the next. The team appears to me to still be playing hard up to the final gun. That's all I want to see. Give the team some time and things will gel - maybe quicker than we think. Things that don't kill ya' can only make you stronger.

Off Soap Box

LT

12:18 PM  
Blogger IV said...

I am for giving Caudle meaningful game experience. I wonder why that has not already been done. However, I don't think that a change in QBs will make that much difference at this stage of the game. I just believe that it is time to play for the future, whatever that may be.

12:24 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Jet-it did not help.

My issue is not that AU lost, as I expected them to realistically win 7 games. But I think, for many fans, but I speak only for me, it is how the losses have come. A loss is a loss, but being blown out by Ark and only 1 offensive TD against KY and if not for the scrub TD at the end, no TD's last night. To me that means someone is not doing their homework.

12:26 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Either coaching is not adjusting or the coaches have no confidence that the players can get it done.

12:27 PM  
Blogger auforme said...

Almost everybody on these boards said they expected a 6-6 season or at best a 7-5 season when it started. I know we all,myself included, got excited when we jumped out to 5-0. It's hard to reign back in expectations, but that's what we need to do. When cooler heads were prevailing in August, we made predictions and it looks like we were all right. Let's be thankful that it is not worse than what we predicted.
I can empathize with the people saying to pull Todd. He looks like a deer in the proverbial headlights. I don't think it would kill the coaches or the team morale to give someone else a chance in that position. We've changed out punt returners all season. Alas, there hasn't been any improvement in that area though. Maybe there would at QB... we don't know until we try.

12:27 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

atleast there is racingtoday and I can pull for Jimmie Johnson to win. He usually doesn't let me down.

12:28 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Also helps me get through the Sundaysfternoon nap time which is rapidly approaching.

12:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ok...Hotties..

Let's play caption this pic....

WTH

12:33 PM  
Blogger wes said...

HA...I needed that. Thanks FSJ.

12:35 PM  
Blogger auforme said...

All things that start out terrible don't stay that way:
Tuberville’s first year: 5-6 (2-6)
Pat Dye: 5-6 (2-4)
Shug Jordan: 5-5 (3-4)

12:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I will admit that I am terribly perplexed about what has happened to the offenses at Auburn AND Alabama.


We are both shell's of our early season performances.

12:36 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

So what you're saying WERK, is that we really have no reason to be upset? Sounds good.

12:41 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

When I look at our team, I see ..

1. An average, not bad, OL. No depth behind it.
2. WRs who don't get separation.
3. A top flight RB.
4. A chance of pace back who's hurt and not of much use.
5. A QB with a sagging arm and worse confidence.
6. A punter you can't depend on.
7. A water weak DL -- no depth
8. Average at best DEs -- no depth
9. Below average LBs -- no depth
10. Average at best corners -- no depth
11. One safety that could be a star, the other is not special.
12. Poor kickoff coverage.
13. No one who can catch a punt.
14. Good FG kicker.

1 to 85 we're in the bottom three in the league. Once the other coaches catch up with the schemes, you're in trouble.

So you deal with what you can. One of them is give someone else a shot at QB. Go with Caudle. To me, playing Rollison is folly.

Give Shoemaker a shot. Move AC to LB and see what happens.

And recruit your @$$ because it's obvious we don't have many players.

12:50 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Sean,

That's not what I'm saying at all.

12:50 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

I was just pointing out the irony of how expectations change and what was acceptable 2 months ago now looks really bad.

12:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have a question.

Is this two year experimental switch to the "spread" necessary?

Why can't we just line up and go smash mouth with teams? And don't try to sell me that's what we do with this two year experiment.

1:06 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Sensi-That's what we do with the 2 year experiment.
I talked with an OL from 2008 team this past week. He said the offense will work very well, but that AU recruited players that run the ball. He said his sr year in HS they passed he ball only 30 times. He was a very good run blocker and the TF thing threw the off, but the stsff is recruiting to what it needs for this offense.

1:14 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Look at the WR and RB they are recruitng. All should be good at the 'spread' type offense.

1:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just hope it doesn't make us weak on defense the way some of the Big 12 teams are.

1:16 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

TX really clsed the gap on UAT in the AP poll. I did watch the Tx game last night. Not sure about Mizzou, but Muschamp has the D playing extremely well.

1:16 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

I hope not also. But I thnk they approach is as Jay described last week. Not to shut teams down but to manage the scores. If theother teams score 21, that should not be enough to beat AU.
Look at UF, their D is stout(when all the starters are in) and they run a version of the spread.

1:18 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

It can be done, you just have to have athletes to do it. AU doesn't have the athletes now.

1:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks.

I suppose we'll know the answers in three to five years.

1:21 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

This is not a good line to have written about you:

After throwing 12 touchdowns with only one interception the first five games, Todd has two interceptions and no TD passes in the last three -- all Auburn losses.

1:21 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Sorry to disappoint. When you make a total change in your style of play, it will take a couple of years to get the players you need.

To many will try to compare this change to UAT. They did not change their style of play, they changed coaches that kep t the same 'style' but just went out and got good athletes to play in that style.

1:23 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

This isn't a pretty statement either:

Receivers Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachery, also big factors in AU's opening five wins, have virtually disappeared from the offense, combining for one catch for one yard Saturday night

1:25 PM  
Blogger Howard said...

I was surprised to see the sun this morning, but it did, in fact, rise. And it's still great to be an Auburn Tiger (although slightly more painful to face the Clempsun tiger fans this morning at church).

I hope we start finding some answers. I'm very tired of the same old questions.

War Eagle Anyway!

1:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Todd didn't have all day to throw at LSU. The ends were grabbing for air over and over again as the defender rounded the corner. If Todd would have thrown the ball sooner it would have helped, but the WRs were not getting enough separation.

Todd has lost his confidence to make throws. I say give Caudle a chance. We have no chance if Todd continues to be indecisive.

Also, Kodi is no longer a threat at wildcat because he is a terrible passer. Defenses get that. He is not a good enough runner either. In other words, he is not a dual threat. If you are going to have a single threat in the wildcat, then use a RB who can get through the hole, make some moves, and step on the gas.

1:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just replayed the game and hit FF frequently. Couldn't tell if WRs were open and Todd lacked confidence or if WRs weren't open. Warching Todd's helmet carefully, I noticed that he methodically checked from Wr to Wr and typically threw to the outlet man for a 1 yd gain.

The entire team broke down...penalties, missed blocks-tackles, fumbles etc. A rested UT almost beat Bama and a rested LSU broke us down in every area. Does anyone still doubt the advantage of a week off in the SEC?

I normally feel that a team should put the best players on the field and try to win each game. Because we are in such an extraordinary circumstance, I think we should deviate and should definitely play Caudle and anyone else with future potential. Not sure about pulling TR's redshirt tho.

1:32 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

after watching these last 3 games, I understand more why Chizik and co. did nto want to play UCLA in ATL next year. I questioned that early on, but am stepping up and saying they made the correct call (IMO)

2:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why sign up for a beating, ehh?

Way to wave the white flag. Nothing says we have confidence like that.

2:14 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Hey, a positive mark is Au defense gave up only 122 yards rushing, LSU was ranked 112th in rushing though.

2:15 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

I just think they knew early on that this was not a good team and next year is not going to be a lot better.

2:17 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

I said this last night, I think there will be A LOT of empty seats this week. Not saying I will not be there, but I think the fans are jumping off the bus. Not talking about anyone here. I just think the overall fan base is not liking what they are seing now.

2:18 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Another bad sign:

Not even tailback Ben Tate - who came into the game as the SEC's second-leading rusher - gave the Tigers' much hope on offense. He finished with 67 yards.

2:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Expected attendance: 82,000

2:24 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

Announced attendance:85,439
Actual attendance:80,000

2:33 PM  
Blogger wes said...

here is the true test of how poor we looked last night. what did Rod and the radio crew have to say? if they acknowledged poor play...we're in trouble.

2:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rod called it "over" way before the second half concluded.

2:55 PM  
Blogger j-z said...

I, for one, am excited about our potential trip to Shreveport.

3:16 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

MrsTHT and I have returned from BTR. We had a great Thursday and Friday, and an outstanding Saturday morning. Saturday night was exactly what I expected, but didn't want to see.

Must get rested for the 1,000 mile RT to AU next week.

WARRRRRRRRRRRRR EAGLE!!!

GO TIGERS!!!

3:24 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

If we go 6-6 it's not a given that we will receive a bowl bid. It would be a team that went 1-6 down the stretch and as South Carolina found out a couple of years ago, that doesn't mean you will get a bid if there are a lot of SEC teams with 6 wins.

3:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Metaphor for our offense

3:34 PM  
Blogger AUfan said...

One other aspect Caudle would bring to the table- he can run. The ability to avoid sacks and run some option would add a desperately needed wrinkle to the offense.

I don't blame everything on Todd, but he is obviously not the QB we saw earlier in the season. Caudle can do some things Todd cannot and if he throws interceptions, heck, the defense is going to give up points anyway. Maybe he also hits some downfield passes to help open things back up for Tate.

A QB change can spark a team. It would be a roll of the dice, I guess, but this team is in desperate need of a spark from somewhere.

3:35 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

Jay I always thought you were a closet Tony Franklin lover! :)

3:54 PM  
Blogger FSJ said...

If Auburn is bowl eligible (and they will be) they'll get a spot somewhere. The fans travel too well.

4:18 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I'll post Gene Chizik's stuff around 5 p.m.

4:27 PM  
Blogger Eddie McCoy said...

RK- If we go 6-6 we are guarenteed to play in a bowl game. The SEC cannot currently fill it's obligations, so we are in.

4:35 PM  
Blogger IV said...

I absolutely think that it is time to start playing the ones that will be our future. The only senior I would start on offense would be Ben Tate. Andrew McCain has become our poster boy for illegal procedure calls. I would start the next best underclassman O lineman in his place. Lutzenkirchen in place of Trott and Caudle instead of Todd at QB. On defense, we have a different situation. I think that I would of course start AC the rest of the way, McFadden because we don't have much choice and either Fairley or Blanc intead of Ricks. That would give us experienced backups at a few positions and a good bit of playing time for those that may be counted on for next year

4:46 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

Despite the production on the field I had a pretty good time in Baton Rouge. No obnoxious fans to report about. The ones I spoke with were actually pretty cool peeps. I'd do it again.

4:47 PM  
Blogger IV said...

Also, I would consider eliminating the wildcat formation from here to the end of the season and start finding ways to get the ball in Fannin's hands. We might as well give Shoemaker another chance after the drop off in Durst's Punt efforts of late. Kodi becomes a first team member of the cheerleading squad because he is a good Auburn man.

4:52 PM  
Blogger IV said...

Maybe Kodi would be a good Aubie.

5:08 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Chizik was late arriving today.

I'm working on the new post now.

5:22 PM  

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